WiiU: The Next Leap In Interactive Gaming

If you love the family-centric nature of active video games like the Wii, you've probably noticed that the newest ones, like Sony's interactive PlayStation Move controllers and Microsoft's Kinect each take its own unique approach. But, 5 years after the original Wii launch, isn't it time for an update? We think so, which is why we took note last year at E3 (the annual video game conference) when Wii announced the next generation called WiiU, referring to its aim to be both about "you" and "universal" that is, for everyone. Still the concept is difficult to grasp, which is why we pounced on the opportunity for a hands-on demo at CES 2012.

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Wii, Kinect and Move all employ different concepts of what it means to game interactively, but Wii has always maintained a certain hominess that's absent from other systems. Now, WiiU keeps everything that we liked in the original, like the bubbly-shaped white controllers and friendly interface, and builds on these strengths. The new WiiU supports high definition and most notably employs a new controller of an entirely new flavor - a hybrid of a small tablet and a two-handed game controller.

While no official games were available, we were able to try out the system in several interactive settings that illustrate the potential new dimension of the gaming world. We engaged in something similar to a game of tag that simulates the ability of players to hide from each other - with the person that was "it" not visible on the screen but still able to participate in the game on the tablet-like controller.

Additionally, a forward- facing camera opens the door to video chatting and numerous other sensors in the controller help immerse the user in a world of his own, from which he can function either autonomously or in coordination with other players on the TV screen. Nintendo reps also suggested that if the TV was suddenly needed for an alternate purpose, portions of gaming could still continue on the new controller uninterrupted.

The new WiiU platform has the potential to stretch the boundaries of interactive gaming as we now know it. While it retains the lighthearted tone that made it an original hit with families years ago, it also has a distinctive modern twist. We can't wait to see how developers will use the endless possibilities WiiU affords to create new games for the entire family. Expect WiiU to be available by Holiday season 2012.